Indecent assault charges move forward

Friday

Apr 18, 2014 at 2:00 PMApr 18, 2014 at 2:13 PM

HONESDALE - Indecent assault counts have been forwarded to county court against a former Western Wayne High School senior charged with indecently assaulted four underage girls over a five-month period at the school, reported state police Trooper John Chervanka.

By Kevin Kearneykkearney@wayneindependent.com

HONESDALE - Indecent assault counts have been forwarded to county court against a former Western Wayne High School senior charged with indecently assaulted four underage girls over a five-month period at the school, reported state police Trooper John Chervanka.

Brandon Rowland Matthews, 19, of Lake Ariel, had a preliminary hearing this week before Magisterial District Judge Ted Mikulak.

If Matthews goes to trial he will face numerous charges including indecent assault and felony counts of corruption of minors.

The girls - two 16-year-olds, a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old - told state police the assaults included Matthews fondling, kissing and biting them. The alleged assaults happened in hallways and in a cafeteria.

He also told the alleged victims to send him nude pictures of themselves and photos of other underage girls in "sexy poses," says an arrest affidavit.

District Superintendent Clay LaCoe could not be reached Monday.

Police said Matthews was "removed" from the high school in January.

State police began the investigation Jan. 29 after being contacted by a school police officer, who had collected statements from the alleged victims and witnesses.

Matthews initially denied the accusations, but acknowledged them after being told about a witness, police said.

Authorities said the accounts of the alleged victims are similar, as they said Matthews fondled and kissed them, and bit their necks.

One of the alleged victims said Matthews would "constantly grab and smack" her, saying, "I'm not going to stop until I get what I want," according to reports.

She also refused to send him nude photographs, police said.

The girl told police Matthews "often talked about his private parts and would not stop when I asked him to leave me alone."

Another alleged victim told police Matthews would bite her and leave bruises on her back, neck and wrist, according to the affidavit.

Police said one of the alleged victims agreed to meet with Matthews at her house because she felt sorry for him because he was depressed.

"He grabbed and kissed me," the girl told police, according to the affidavit.